Genre

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Choral

 

The Holst Singers is a renowned classical music ensemble based in London, England. Founded in 1978 by conductor and composer Stephen Layton, the group has established itself as one of the leading choral ensembles in the world, known for its exceptional musicianship and innovative programming. Stephen Layton, who was then a student at King's College, Cambridge, founded the Holst Singers with a group of fellow students who shared his passion for choral music. The ensemble was named after the English composer Gustav Holst, whose music Layton admired and frequently programmed in the group's early concerts. Over the years, the Holst Singers has attracted some of the finest choral singers in the UK, many of whom have gone on to successful solo careers. The group's current members include sopranos Amy Haworth and Charlotte Ashley, altos Kate Symonds-Joy and Helen Charlston, tenors Guy Cutting and William Petter, and basses Benedict Hymas and Michael Craddock. The Holst Singers has a wide-ranging repertoire that encompasses music from the Renaissance to the present day, with a particular focus on contemporary choral music. The group has commissioned and premiered works by many leading composers, including John Tavener, Arvo Pärt, and James MacMillan. One of the Holst Singers' most notable achievements was its performance of the complete choral works of Benjamin Britten in 2013, to mark the centenary of the composer's birth. The group performed all 69 of Britten's choral works over the course of a year, in a series of concerts at venues across London. The project was widely praised for its ambition and artistic excellence, and cemented the Holst Singers' reputation as one of the UK's foremost choral ensembles. The Holst Singers has also collaborated with many leading orchestras and conductors, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Academy of Ancient Music, and Sir John Eliot Gardiner. The group has performed at major venues and festivals around the world, including the BBC Proms, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the Salzburg Festival. In addition to its live performances, the Holst Singers has released numerous recordings, many of which have received critical acclaim. The group's discography includes works by Britten, Pärt, and MacMillan, as well as a number of Christmas albums and collections of English choral music. The Holst Singers has won numerous awards and accolades over the years, including the Gramophone Award for Best Choral Recording in 2008, for its recording of Pärt's Passio. The group has also been nominated for several other Gramophone Awards, as well as the BBC Music Magazine Award and the International Classical Music Award. Despite its many achievements, the Holst Singers remains committed to its founding principles of musical excellence and innovation. Under the leadership of Stephen Layton, the group continues to push the boundaries of choral music, commissioning new works and exploring new repertoire, while maintaining its reputation as one of the world's finest choral ensembles.

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